Beverage Cooling Device and Method of Use Thereof

ABSTRACT

One embodiment of a disposable/reusable beverage cooling device adapted for use with an insulated beverage holder, may be comprised of an enclosure and a refrigerant. One enclosure may be comprised of a generally flexible and substantially leak-proof reusable, recyclable or biodegradable material having a shape adapted to be received by a beverage insulator cavity. The enclosure may generally surround the refrigerant material, which may be comprised of a generally non-toxic environmentally friendly and/or biodegradable gelatinous material. Upon placing one or more cold beverage cooling devices into the beverage insulator cavity, a beverage container may be placed into the cavity proximal the cooling device. The cooling device may be adapted to keep the beverage and beverage container in the insulator at a lower temperature for a longer period.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention generally relates to beverage cooling devices.

BACKGROUND

Beverages are often consumed in the outdoors. Especially in the summer,persons enjoy drinking various liquids in an attempt to cool themselvesdue to the excessive heat or otherwise. When drinking beverages outdoorsin the summer, the surface of the beverage container may developexcessive condensation. Furthermore, the temperature of the liquid mayincrease rapidly when the ambient temperature is much greater than thetemperature of the beverage. Therefore, oftentimes when a person choosesto enjoy an outdoor summertime (and sometimes and indoor or winter)beverage, that person may use a beverage insulator.

Beverage insulators serve multiple purposes. While beverage insulatorstypically provide users with an increased ability to keep the beverageat a lower temperature for a longer period of time, beverage insulatorsmay also be used to increase a person's grip on the beverage containeras well as provide a display device for advertisers or others. In orderto provide a person with the ability to more easily grip a beveragecontainer sweating condensation while also provide the ability to keepthe beverage cooler than it would be without the insulator, beverageinsulators are typically comprised of materials with a highercoefficient of friction than the beverage container while havinginsulating properties.

For example, many beverage insulators (often refered to as koozie™ orcoozie coolers) are comprised of Styrofoam, Neoprene, or other polymericmaterials. Beverage insulator materials are typically adapted to keepthe beverage at a lower temperature than the beverage would otherwise beat without the insulator, yet not be so thick that it decreases a user'sability to adequately grip the container. Different polymeric materialshave the ability to insulate the beverage container at a relatively lowthickness. Many of these beverage insulators are “sleeve” or “sheath”type devices that the beverage container may slide into or fit within.Therefore, the condensation which may occur on the beverage containerwill be kept within the inner portion of the sleeve, leaving the outersleeve typically dry, allowing for increased grippage.

Although beverage insulators may ensure increased grippage for a user,their ability to keep a beverage at a lower temperature is oftentimeslimited. For example, many insulators are fairly thin so that a userwith small hands may be able grip the beverage once it is generallyenclosed by the insulator, or for other reasons. Thinning the insulatorto increase grippage decreases insulation. Furthermore, Styrofoam andother polymers used as beverage insulators can not protect the beveragefrom the heat during extremely hot days. Therefore, oftentimes beverageinsulators, which may also be referred to as cozies, coozys, koozies, orother similar terms, may not be able to adequately perform the functionthey are supposed to perform. Prior art devices adapted to fit withinbeverage insulators to keep the beverage cold are deficient due to (i)their inability to keep a beverage cool, (ii) their lack of usabilityacross multiple beverage containers, and (iii) that they are notenvironmentally safe, and (iv) they are not adapted to be used as adisposable or recyclable device.

SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top view of a disposable beverage cooler according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 a side view of a disposable beverage cooler according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a disposable beverage cooleraccording to one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4A is a side view of a portion of a beverage container and adisposable beverage cooler having a smaller volume forming to the shapeof the beverage container bottom end according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4B is a side view of a portion of a beverage container and adisposable beverage cooler in a second shape having a larger volumeforming to the shape of the beverage container bottom end according toone embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4C is a side view of a portion of a beverage container and adisposable beverage cooler in a second shape forming to the shape of abottom end of a beverage container according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 4D is a side view of a portion of a beverage container and a frozendisposable beverage cooler in a first shape according to one embodimentof the invention.

FIG. 5 is an exploded isometric view of a beverage insulator, adisposable beverage cooler, and a beverage container according to oneembodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of an insulated dispenser adapted to hold aplurality of beverage coolers according to one embodiment of theinvention.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of a vertically orientated dispenser adaptedto hold a plurality of beverage coolers in a freezer and permit easyaccess to a cooler according to one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of an environmentally-safe disposable and adaptable beveragecooler that has the ability to keep beverage containers with diverselyshaped bottom ends cool while they are contained within coozie orbeverage insulator is described herein. The cooling device (or cooler)is adapted to fit within a beverage insulator sandwiched between thebottom thereof and the bottom end of an associated beverage container.Certain variations, after use, may be disposed of without adverseenvironmental effect. For example, some variations of a disposablebeverage cooling device can be comprised of a biodegradable flexibleenclosure generally surrounding a biodegradable gelatinous coolantmaterial, also referred to as a refrigerant.

Embodiments of the beverage cooler are adapted to cool a beverage placedwithin the insulator or at least enable the beverage to better maintaina lower more desirable temperature. The enclosure typically comprises athin sheets of flexible polymeric material that sandwich and contain therefrigerant. The slight thickness of the enclosure itself facilitatesthe transfer of heat to occur between the coolant material and thebeverage container. Furthermore, the interior volume of the enclosure isconfigured to receive and hold a sufficient amount of coolant materialto either cool the beverage contained in an associated insulator or atleast slow the rate at which the beverage temperature increases whenexposed to higher temperature ambient conditions. For example, on verywarm days, a variation of a beverage cooler having a larger enclosurevolume may be used rather than another variation of the beverage coolerwith a smaller volume that is more suited for use on cooler days. Byallowing coolers having differing volumes to be easily interchanged,users may adapt to the environmental conditions of the day to betterkeep their beverage enclosed beverages at an optimal temperature.

A beverage cooler is typically placed within the beverage insulator whenits refrigerant is in a frozen state or highly cooled state. A beveragecooler is frozen or chilled to a suitable temperature by subjecting itto extremely cold temperatures for a suitable period of time. Most oftenthis can be achieved by placing the cooler in a freezer. Withembodiments utilizing an at least partially gelatinous coolant material,the coolant material may remain at least partially malleable or becomemore malleable as it temperature increases, allowing the cooler by wayof its flexible enclosure to contact a greater percentage of the bottomsurface of a beverage container. Advantageously, embodiments andvariations of the beverage cooler utilizing the gelatinous refrigerantor coolant in combination with a flexible enclosure facilitates thecooler to mold or form itself to the shape of the bottom surface ofbeverage containers of differing configurations thereby increasing itscontact area with the bottom side of the beverage container.

Embodiments of the beverage cooler may be used to either cool anotherwise temperate beverage, or it may be used to maintain a previouslychilled beverage at a suitably chilled temperature. When the temperatureof the coolant and the enclosure increases to about the same temperatureof an associated beverage container and beverage, the beverage cooler istypically no longer capable of cooling or helping to maintain thetemperature of the beverage. Some embodiments of the beverage cooler maybe configured to be refrozen and reused later while other embodimentsare designed to be disposed of. In the case of biodegradable variants,the enclosure and the coolant material is typically biodegradable and assuch the cooler may be disposed of by placing it in the trash withoutconcerns that the materials will have an adverse impact on theenvironment.

In one method, to dispose of the beverage cooler, the beverage containeris first removed from the beverage insulator. Upon removing the beveragecontainer, the beverage cooler is removed from the insulator. This maybe done through gravity, by rotating the beverage insulator in avertical manner, or upside-down, to allow the cooler to fall out of theinsulator cavity. Upon removal of the beverage cooler, the cooler isplaced in a trash receptacle or recycling bin and begin itsbiodegradable process. A new chilled or frozen cozie cooler may beplaced into the beverage insulator by vertically rotating the beverageinsulator to a position wherein the cavity is upwardly positioned, andthen dropping a cooler into the cavity. A bottom side of the cooler istypically placed against the bottom side of the beverage insulator inthe interior of the cavity, allowing the beverage cooler's top side tobe in contact with the bottom end of an associated beverage containerthat is received into the associated beverage insulator. The flexiblenature of the enclosure and the refrigerant causes the cooler to molditself to the container's bottom and increase the contact surface areatherewith.

Various embodiments of the beverage cooler were tested using twelveounce aluminum cans of beer and soft drinks in combination with suitablebeverage insulators by placing a suitably chilled or frozen cooler inthe beverage insulator and placing the beverage on top of the cooler.The temperatures of the beverages were monitored. On average whenexposed to similar environmental conditions, the temperature of abeverage contained in a beverage insulator with a beverage cooler wasfive degrees Fahrenheit cooler after one half of an hour when comparedto a similar beverage contained in a beverage insulator without thecooler.

The coolers which are typically round or circular to match theconfiguration of the bottom of a typical beverage insulator and beveragecontainer can be stored in tubular dispensers. For instance, avertically orientated dispenser can be placed in a freezer that isconfigured to dispense stacked frozen/chilled coolers from a bottom endthrough a slot while having an open top end whereby a user can placeused or warm coolers for re-chilling. Another tubular dispenser isinsulated and includes insulated top and/or bottom ends caps that permita user to transport a stack of coolers for use at a picnic or otherfunction remote from a freezer. The insulated dispenser assists inmaintaining the coolers in a suitably chilled state for extended periodsof time. The insulated cooler can be transported by itself or placed ina suitable chest cooler that would typically contain ice and chilledbeverages.

Terminology:

The terms and phrases as indicated in quotation marks (“ ”) in thissection are intended to have the meaning ascribed to them in thisTerminology section applied to them throughout this document, includingin the claims, unless clearly indicated otherwise in context. Further,as applicable, the stated definitions are to apply, regardless of theword or phrase's case, tense or any singular or plural variations of thedefined word or phrase.

The term “or” as used in this specification and the appended claims isnot meant to be exclusive rather the term is inclusive meaning “eitheror both”.

References in the specification to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “apreferred embodiment”, “an alternative embodiment”, “a variation”, “onevariation”, and similar phrases mean that a particular feature,structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodimentis included in at least an embodiment of the invention. The appearancesof phrases like “in one embodiment”, “in an embodiment”, or “in avariation” in various places in the specification are not necessarilyall meant to refer to the same embodiment or variation.

The term “couple”, “coupled”, “coupling”, or any variation thereof, asused in this specification and the appended claims refers to either anindirect or direct connection between the identified elements,components or objects. Often, the manner of the coupling will be relatedspecifically to the manner in which the two coupled elements interact.Specifically, this term may be used to define two elements joined by abolted fastener, a latch, a hook, or any other reasonably readilyremovable fastening device.

The term “integrate” or “integrated” as used in this specification andthe appended claims refers to a blending, uniting, or incorporation ofthe identified elements, components or objects into a unified whole.

Directional and/or relationary terms such as, but not limited to, left,right, nadir, apex, top, bottom, vertical, horizontal, back, front andlateral are relative to each other. These terms are dependent on thespecific orientation of an applicable element or article, and are usedaccordingly to aid in the description of the various embodiments and arenot necessarily intended to be construed as limiting.

As applicable, the terms “about” or “generally” as used herein unlessotherwise indicated means a margin of ±20%. Also, as applicable, theterm “substantially” as used herein unless otherwise indicated means amargin of ±10%. It is to be appreciated that not all uses of the aboveterms are quantifiable such that the referenced ranges can be applied.

The term “bioplastic”, and any variation used herein does not refer to asingle class of polymers, but rather to a family of products which canvary considerably but are generally characterized as plastics thatbiodegrade over time especially such as when subject to landfillconditions. One type of bioplastic may be based on renewable resourcessuch as, but not limited to hemp oil, soybean oil and corn starch.Another type of bioplastics may be comprised of biodegradable degradablepolymers which meet scientifically recognized criteria forbiodegradability and compostability.

One Embodiment of a Disposable Beverage Cooling Device

As shown in FIGS. 1 through 4, one embodiment of a disposable beveragecooling device 10 comprises a coolant material substantially containedwithin a cavity 18 and surrounded by an enclosure 12. The coolantmaterial is also be referred to as refrigerant herein. Furthermore, thecoolant material is typically gelatinous but may not be in othervariations. The enclosure is typically comprised of a flexible, orform-fitting a polymeric sheet material. In some variations thepolymeric sheet material comprises a bioplastic. The coolant can bebiodegradable as well. Accordingly, wherein the cooling device (orcooler) comprises biogradable materials it can be disposed of usingtraditional means without undue concern over its effect on landfills andthe environment.

By using a bioplastic material as the enclosure material, microorganismscan metabolize the enclosure upon disposal. Alternatively with othertypes of bioplastics, the enclosure degrades naturally when exposed tocertain environmental conditions, such as but not limited to ultravioletradiation. A device which biodegrades typically produces an inertmaterial upon breakdown that is less harmful to the environment thandevices not having a bioplastic enclosure. Natural polymers that can beincorporated into a bioplastic include (i) natural rubber, also known aspolyisoprene; (ii) starch and cellulose based polymers, which are bothmade from glucose; and (iii) proteins based polymers. Embodiments of anenclosure may also be comprised of bioplastic or non-bioplastic polymerssuch as polypropylene, vinyl polymers, synthetic polymers such as nylonand synthetic rubber, and thermoplastic polymers such as polyvinylchloride (PVC).

Variations of the cooler enclosure 12 may be comprised of a bioplasticsthat include a plastarch or a polylactide as a constituent thereof. Aplastarch material is comprised of cornstarch, among other biodegradablematerials. A polylactide is comprised of a thermoplastic derived fromrenewable resources such as, but not limited to corn starch orsugarcanes. An enclosure may also be comprised of a material whichdegrades from a polymeric structure into compounds like CO₂ and H₂O.

In variations, the enclosure may also be comprised of a polymericmaterial that does not easily degrade or is more resistant todegradation. The enclosures made from non-degradable materials aretypically more durable and as such adapted to be used multiple times inpotentially adverse conditions. For example, the enclosures can becomprised of a polyurethane, polypropylene or polyethylene. Coolers madeusing non-bioplastic enclosures can nonetheless be environmentallyfriendly especially if the particular material used for the enclosure isrecyclable such as would be the case with thermoplastics such aspolyethylene and polypropylene.

For example, PVC or a nylon sheet material may be used as the enclosurematerial. Such an enclosure may be semi-reusable, meaning it can bereused reliably a specified number of times, such as, but not limitedto, about six. It may also be re-usable/disposable, which means it mayalso be disposed of after it is used.

Preferably, the coolant or refrigerant 16 used in the variousembodiments of the cooler is environmentally friendly, such as but notlimited to water or a water-based gelatinous compound. To maximize theeffectiveness of the coolant, it is desirable to utilize a material thatdoes not freeze into an immovable solid such as ice but rather an atleast partially gelatinous material that can conform to the bottom of abeverage container. This is often accomplished by placing additives inwater. Preferably, the additives are environmentally friendly such thatthey can be disposed of without undue concern of their effect on theenvironment. For instance, in some variations the coolant can comprise agel with biodegradable or environmentally friendly constituants.

One biodegradable gel is comprised of at least one complex carbohydrate,and has a high degree of carboxyl substitution and is cross-linked withan organic material. Furthermore, the gel can be comprised ofpropenamide polymers, a paraben-based preservative, or water. One gelcan even be comprised of saline and may have a freezing temperature nogreater than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The gel is preferably non-toxic.

One aspect of biogradability or degradability of an enclosure 12 is thethickness 14 of the sheet material from which it is comprised.Furthermore, thickness is a factor in determining the rate or level ofheat exchange between the coolant 16 and any proximally located beveragecontainer 40. In order to maximize heat transfer and biodegradability,while providing maximum durability and flexibility, the preferredthickness of the sheet material is from about 0.005 inches to 0.015inches thick. A more preferred thickness is about 0.0075 inches to0.0125 inches thick. And a most preferred thickness can be about 0.008inches to 0.01 inches thick. Of course, the actual thickness of anyenclosure sheet material will to some extent depend on the modulus ofthe sheet material as well as the material's tensile and puncturestrength characteristics.

One embodiment of the cooler includes a sealed outer edge 26. The sealedouter edge 26, which joins to pieces of sheet material proximate theirperimeters, typically forms the exterior edge of the enclosure cavity18. Sealing two or more sheets togethor typically entails a heatingprocess wherein a first enclosure sheet 13 is fused to a secondenclosure sheet 11 by increasing the temperature of the enclosurematerial to a temperature where the material is in a liquid ornear-liquid form, pressing the edge of the embodiment together, and thencooling. The thickness 15 of the enclosure at these sealed outer edges26 is typically about double the thickness of an individual sheet.Coolant is placed within the cavity during the cooling stage or prior tothe edge being sealed or at some point therebetween. For instance, thetwo sheets can be fused together over much of their circumferenceleaving a small unsealed section wherein the coolant can be injected.After injection, a second fusing operation is commenced to seal thefinal section.

In at least one embodiment of the cooler 10, the top and bottom sidesand surfaces 13&11 are adapted to conform to those correspondingsurfaces in which they come in contact. As best shown in FIGS. 4Athrough 4C, the top surface sheet 13 conforms to the generally concavebottom side 20 of a typical beverage container 40 while the bottomsurface sheet 11 conforms to the bottom side of a beverage insulator ora flat table top surface. The sheets typically have generally smoothouter surfaces which maximizes the contact area with the beverage canbottom to increase heat transfer characteristics.

To facilitate the capability of the cooler to conform to the surfaces ofthe beverage container and the beverage insulator respectively, the gelmay only partially fill the potential cavity volume 16 as isdemonstratively illustrated in FIG. 3. It is to be appreciated, however,that the remaining unfilled portion 18 of the total potential cavityvolume is not as is shown filled with air or some other substance.Rather, the sheets would bend and fold to reduce the actual volume ofthe cavity to that of the coolant. It is these bends and folds or otherdeformation of the sheet, which may or may not be readily perceivable,that permit the device to conform to external surfaces. For example, thevolume formed by an enclosure is fully inflated without causing thesheets to significantly elastically deform may be about 30 cc; whereas,the volume of refrigerant placed in the enclosure may only be 20 cc. Assuch, the entire cooler unit will remain flexible permitting the coolerto mold to the bottom configuration of a beverage container.

Enclosure cavities 18 wherein the entire potential cavity volume 16 isfilled with coolant are also contemplated. In a cooler embodiment inwhich the potential cavity volume is fully filled and the top and bottomsheets are effectively tensioned, the top sheet of the cooler may notfully conform to the bottom of the beverage container 20 and the bottomsheet 11 may not conform to the associated bottom side of the insulatedbeverage holder or table top as best shown in FIG. 4D. This design maynot cool the beverage in the container as quickly and as thoroughly as acooler in contact with a greater portion of the surface area on thebeverage container's bottom end as a result of the reduced contact areabetween the cooler and the beverage container.

As best seen in FIG. 1, the beverage cooler is generally circular inshape. In cross section of the beverage cooler is generally disk shapedhaving convex top and bottom sides as best shown in FIG. 2. Theouter-diameter 22 of a typical embodiment intended for use with typical12 ounce aluminum cans is about 6.5 cm with the inner-diameter 24 beingabout 6.0 cm. This size allows the cooler to easily slide into abeverage insulator as most beverage insulators 30 have a generallycylindrical cavity 32 with a diameter of about 7.0 cm, as shown in FIG.5.

Furthermore, beverage containers 40 are typically comprised of acircular bottom end 42. Therefore, a generally circular cooler istypically best adapted to fit within the insulator cavity 32 and providethe best cooling potential of the beverage container as it would likelycontact the greatest surface area on the similarly-shaped beveragecontainer bottom end 42. However, non-circular cooler embodiments arealso contemplated such as, but not limited to, rectangular shapedcoolers and coolers that represent an outline of a particular image orsymbol, for example, a heart, a football or a four leaf clover.Embodiments may be adapted to cool different sized beverage containers,such as, but not limited to, 8, 12 and 20 ounce containers in glass,plastic, aluminum and other suitable materials. Furthermore, anadvertisement be imprinted or otherwise placed on the first sheet 13,second sheet 11, or both. In addition to use with coozie-type beverageinsulators, variations of the coolers can be used with other devicesadapted to hold beverage containers such as automobile cup holders.

The coolers can be sold in any suitable manner typically in quantityeither prefrozen or not. It is contemplated that coolers, which inquantity are very economical to produce, could be sold pre-frozen inbulk, such as in a large bag available in the ice chests found at mostsupermarkets that are typically used to hold ice for bulk sale. In othervariations the coolers could be sold prepackaged in dispensers such asthe ones described herein.

One Method of Using a Beverage Cooling Device:

Referring generally to FIG. 5, a user places a frozen or chilledbeverage cooler into a beverage insulator cavity 32 until it rests onits bottom side against the bottom surface of the beverage insulator (orcoozie).Next, a suitably sized beverage container is inserted into thecavity, on top of the cooler until the bottom 42 of the beveragecontainer rests firmly up against the cooler.

Prior to inserting the cooler 10 into the cavity 32, the cooler isfrozen or chilled to a temperature below ambient and typically below thefreezing point of water. The cooler is subjected to a temperature lowerthan the freezing temperature of the associated refrigerant material fora sufficient period of time. For example, wherein the refrigerantmaterial is a biodegradable gel comprised of water or saline, amongother ingredients, the cooler may be placed into a freezer, or may beplaced into a chest cooler having ice, in order to substantially bringthe temperature of the gel to a freezing level. Such a decrease intemperature may in at least some variations result in a cooler that isgenerally stiff and rigid.

As the cooler including a gelatinous coolant begins to warm up, thecoolant becomes more malleable and allowing the cooler to reshape itselfand conform to a larger area of the beverage container's bottom end. Forexample, as best shown in FIGS. 4A through 4C, as the coolant softens,the beverage container begins to sink into the cooler. Accordingly, thecooler top sheet 13 may change from being generally flat or slightlyconvex and take on a much more convex shape to fill the concave thebottom end 42 of a beverage container 40.

As time passes and heat energy is transferred from the beveragecontainer 40 to the cooler 10, the temperature of the cooler willincrease until it can no longer effectively cool the beverage orminimize the beverage's rate of temperature increase. At or near whenthe temperature of the beverage cooler is about the temperature of thebeverage or the beverage container 40, a user can remove the originalbeverage cooler from the beverage insulator replace it with a new,frozen cooler. The removed original cooler, may either be discarded orplaced back in a freezer or chest cooler for re-freezing and eventualre-use. If the cooler 10 is of the biodegradable variety, thebiodegradation process will typically begin at or shortly after thecooler is discarded.

Cooler Dispensors:

The shape and configuration of the coolers as described and illustratedherein are amenable to being neatly stacked in a tubular dispenser suchas the examples illustrated in FIGS. 6 &7.

Referring to FIG. 6, an insulated tubular dispenser 100 is illustrated.The dispenser comprises an insulated tubular body 102 that is typicallycomprised of spaced inner and outer plastic sleeves with an insulatingmaterial spanning the space between the sleeves. The insulating materialcan comprise foam or an air space. In some variations, the space betweenthe two sleeves can be evacuated creating a vacuum space. End caps 104&106 are provided to cover the ends of the sleeve. They can be securedby any suitable means including mating threads 112 & 114 and frictionfit. Both end caps are typically configured to be removable although insome variations the cap on one end me be fixedly secured to the bodysuch as be fusion bonding or adhesive bonding.

As illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 6, an open end of the body ispartially closed by a semicircular plate 108. The plate may beintegrally molded with the inner or outer sleeves of the body 102 or itmay be attached to the body at a later point of the manufacturingprocess. Nevertheless, the plate acts to prevent coolers 10 stacked inthe sleeve from easily falling out of the sleeve when the associated endcap 106 is removed. Simply, to remove a cooler from the sleeve, a usermust slide it laterally outwardly before pulling it away from thedispenser.

Since the variation of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 6 is insulated,it allows a user to transport frozen or chilled coolers away from afreezer for use, such as at a picnic. The dispenser can be transportedby itself or it can be carried in an ice chest such as might be utilizedto carry food and/or beverages.

A second type of dispenser 200 for use in a freezer is illustrated inFIG. 7. This dispenser is designed to be vertically disposed in afreezer. Like the previous dispenser, it comprises a cylindrical tubularbody 202. Unlike the previous dispenser it has an open upper end 204into which warm/melted coolers can be deposited.

The bottom end 208 of the body is substantially closed so that thecoolers will not fall out of the dispenser when the dispenser isproperly vertically orientated. However, a semi-circular slot 206 isprovided that is bounded by the bottom end 208 through which a user canremove a cooler from the dispenser by sliding the cooler laterally. Asecond opening 210 generally opposite the slot is also typicallyprovided through which a user may stick his/her finger to push or slidethe bottommost cooler through the slot 206.

The dispenser of FIG. 7 is typically comprised of a plastic material andcan include additional hardware and/or molded in protrusions tofacilitate the mounting of the dispenser to the inside of a freezer.Alternatively, the unit can rest upright on a shelf in a freezer.

While the dispensers above are described as being comprised of plastic,it is appreciated that paper-based variations have been contemplated aswell. For instance, the coolers could be sold in containers that serveboth as packaging and as a dispenser.

Alternative Embodiments

The embodiments of the beverage cooler and methods of use as illustratedin the accompanying figures and described above are merely exemplary andare not meant to limit the scope of the invention. It is to beappreciated that numerous variations to the invention have beencontemplated as would be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the artwith the benefit of this disclosure.

One potential alternative embodiment may include a device having a shapeadapted to receive a bottom end 42 of a beverage container. For example,one or more cooling devices 10 may be placed in a device which forms theenclosure 12 and freezes the coolant 16 to a shape adapted to receivethe bottom end of an aluminum can or a disposable or recyclable waterbottle. Embodiments are considered which may be pre-shaped to a specificdesign.

1) A beverage cooling device comprising, an enclosure having a shapeadapted to be received within a cavity of a cylindrical beverageinsulator, the enclosure comprising top and bottom sheets of a flexiblepolymeric material, the sheets being fused to each other at theirrespective circumferential edges, the enclosure having a first volumewhen the enclosure is fully expanded; and a non-toxic refrigerantmaterial wholly contained and sealed within the enclosure, therefrigerant material adapted to freeze or form a gelatinous solutionwhen placed in a typical household freezer, the refrigerant materialcontained within the enclosure comprising a second volume when frozen.2) The device of claim 1 wherein, the top and bottom sheets comprise abioplastic; and the refrigerant material comprises a biodegradable gelhaving a freezing temperature no greater than 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 3)The device of claim 2, wherein: the bioplastic comprises at least one ofa plastarch or polylactide; and the biodegradable gel comprises at leastone of a complex carbohydrate, a propenamide polymer, and aparaben-based preservative. 4) The device of claim 1, wherein the firstvolume is significantly greater than the second volume. 5) The device ofclaim 4, wherein the second volume is no more than 75% of the firstvolume, and the device is adapted to generally conform to the shape of abottom end of a beverage container upon receiving the beveragecontainer. 6) The device of claim 5, wherein the device is substantiallycircular having a diameter of about 6.5 cm; and the top and bottomsheets each being about 0.015″ thick. 7) The device of claim 6 whereinthe device contains generally about 20 grams of refrigerant material. 8)A method of cooling a beverage container using the beverage coolingdevice of claim 1, the method comprising: placing the device in thecavity of the beverage insulator; and inserting a beverage container inthe beverage insulator cavity on top of the beverage cooling device. 9)A method of using a beverage cooling device of claim 1 comprising,substantially freezing a first beverage cooling device; placing thefirst beverage cooling device into the cavity of the cylindricalbeverage insulator; inserting a beverage container contain a beveragetherein into the beverage insulator cavity on top of the first beveragecooling device; consuming at least a portion of the beverage; removingthe beverage container from the cavity; removing the first beveragecooling device from the cavity; disposing of the first beverage coolingdevice; and placing a second beverage cooling device into a cavity ofthe cylindrical beverage insulator; and re-inserting the beveragecontainer into the cavity on top of the second beverage cooling device.10) The method of claim 9 wherein, said substantially freezing a firstbeverage cooling device comprises creating a substantially rigidbeverage cooling device. 11) The method of claim 9 wherein the firstbeverage cooling device is biodegradable and said disposing of the firstbeverage cooling device facilitates one of aerobic and anaerobicdegradation of a beverage cooling device enclosure and refrigerantmaterial. 12) A combination comprising, a beverage container having abottom end; a generally first disposable beverage cooling devicecomprising, a flexible enclosure comprising a flexible second sheetadapted to receive the beverage container bottom end; at least 20 gramsof refrigerant material; and a beverage insulator adapted to receive thefirst disposable beverage cooling device. 13) The combination of claim12, wherein, the generally flexible enclosure is further adapted toreceive the beverage container bottom end by changing from a first shapeto a second shape. 14) The combination of claim 12 wherein the coolingdevice further includes indicia provided thereon. 15) The combination ofclaim 14, wherein, the indicia comprises at least one of a graphicdisplay and a word on an outer enclosure surface. 16) The combination ofclaim 12 wherein the beverage insulator comprises an automotive cupholder. 17) A combination comprising a cylindrical beverage insulatorhaving a bottom end, a flexible cooling device and a beverage containerwith a beverage therein with: the flexible cooling device beinggenerally cylindrical and having a diameter proximate an inside diameterof a cavity of the beverage insulator, the cooling device comprising,(i) top and bottom sheets of a flexible polymeric material, each havinga thickness of about 0.010-0.025″, and (ii) at least 20 cc of awater-based refrigerant material wherein the top and bottom sheets arefused together proximate their respective circumferential edges to forman enclosure, the enclosure having a potential fully expanded volume ofat least 26 cc and containing the refrigerant material; the beverageinsulator substantially comprising a polymeric foam material; and thebeverage container comprising one of an aluminum can, a plastic bottleand a glass bottle and having a bottom side; wherein the cooling deviceis positioned in the cavity on top of the beverage insulator's bottomend and beverage container is also positioned in the cavity with itsbottom side in direct contact with the cooling device. 18) Thecombination of claim 17, wherein the top and bottom sheets comprise abioplastic. 19) The combination of claim 18, wherein any additive to thewater-based refrigerant material are biodegradable. 19) The combinationof claim 17, wherein the top sheet is conformed to the bottom side ofthe beverage container and the bottom sheet is conformed to the bottomend of the beverage insulator.